Working with experience

In the beginning of this year I did a course on "Working with your own experience". Last month the course leaders called me to ask whether I wanted to be a guest speaker in the new course. I was surprised but very honoured to be invited. I gladly accepted!

Yesterday afternoon I reported for duty! ;-) I was a bit nervous, because I didn't have time for a proper preparation. The group was smaller than ours, but all very nice people. After an introduction I started to tell my story. Different from my story at the information meetings about eating disorders though, because this was a different audience. I told a more detailed story about my life and my problems with eating disorders and depression. Then I told about the work I do with my experience. The group was very interested.
After a short break I answered questions for quite some time. I also got a lot of compliments for the way I presented myself and my story. They said I made a strong impression and my story was very clear. A real boost for my ego! :-)

Sometimes I'm surprised (but proud) that the girl who was terrified of talking in public is now doing it with just some healthy tension and even enjoys it!

CoT #6: Freyja and the flames

CATS ON TUESDAY is a group of cat lovers

who share pictures and/or stories about their cats once a week,

hosted by Gattina.

Most cats are very interested in flames. I'm used to cats with burned whiskers. I always warn them, but they never listen...
Freyja is more than fascinated by flames. When I bought two oil lamps the other day, wild horses couldn't drag her away. She sat near them all evening: looking, walking around them, sniffing, touching...

Do your cats have this fascination for flames too?

Back

The farewell and funeral of Ron's mother are behind us. It was hard on everyone. Thank God(dess) the contact within Ron's family goes well. The intentions are good: to be there for eachother, let bygones be bygones. May this loss be the start of a new period within the family.
After the funeral other things were waiting: settlement of finances, clearing out the house, divide the contents. Not the easiests of tasks... I remember vividly from after mum's death last year. There's a lot to do but together we're strong. Everyone is working together to get everything sorted out.
Pfew, life is an endless rollercoaster and we can't get out... Ron and I are both near the end of what we can handle. We'll survive eventually I guess, but please light a candle, send energy or whatever you can do for us. We need all the help we can get at the moment...

Not much online

I'm not much online these days, just for checking mail or for a quick look. So no Cats on Tuesday, no Thursday Thirteen, no updates this week. Don't worry, I'll be back! I'll explain.

Yesterday Ron read in the local newspaper, that his mother had died... He hasn't been feeling that well lately (still the burn-out, depression) and this was an almighty blow... We didn't have contact with his mother, but not because he didn't love her... He knew her health wasn't that good, but death was unexpected.
He called his sister(s) and in no-time all three of them were at our home. Their mother had made them promise not to inform Ron and his brother. Now that he had made contact he was more than welcome. Yesterday afternoon we helped sorting out the papers (quite a mess) and last night the family had a private meeting to say goodbye to her.
This morning we ordered a flower arrangement, tonight is the general condolence. Tomorrow at 2pm is the funeral.

It's a girl!!!

Our neighbour / friend Monique has a daughter! After a very difficult pregnancy of 34 weeks with a lot of problems and uncertainty whether the little one would make it she gave birth to a little girl. Her name is Dominique. She's premature, but everything seems to be okay. She weighs 1350 grams (almost 3 lbs).

Monique was admitted to hospital last Monday. Because her placenta didn't work properly she couldn't carry the baby until 40 weeks. This afternoon she had a C-section. Around dinnertime she called us, still a bit groggy but very happy!

Welcome to the world, Dominique!
Blessings on your day of birth
Your cycle begins anew
May happiness and good fortune
Be with you your whole life through!

~*~*~*~

Update Oct. 21: Here is a picture of Dominique next to Rons hand; we made it this afternoon.

TT #61: fungi

Thirteen pictures of fungi I made on the Veluwe Last weekend I spent a weekend in a cottage on the Veluwe. I made lots and lots of pictures of the beautiful landscape, flora and fauna. For this TT I chose 13 pictures of fungi to share: ~*~*~*~ Links to other Thursday Thirteens! ~*~ WorksForMom ~*~ Chelle Y. ~*~ Bloggers ~*~ Robin ~*~ The Gal Herself ~*~ ellen b ~*~ Nicholas ~*~ Yen ~*~ amypalko ~*~ Yuriko ~*~ Malcolm ~*~ Sandy ~*~ Country Dawn ~*~ Ornery's Wife ~*~ SJ Reidhead ~*~ jenn ~*~ Susan Helene ~*~ Lori ~*~ Sandee ~*~ Nicole Austin ~*~ Judy ~*~ Joely Sue ~*~ pussreboots ~*~ Moondancer ~*~ Damozel ~*~ Briggie ~*~ Gattina ~*~ L^2 ~*~ Frigga ~*~ No Nonsense Girl ~*~ Lara Angelina ~*~ Natalie ~*~ Xakara ~*~ Coco ~*~ Midas ~*~ Darla ~*~ grace ~*~ Christy ~*~ Daisy ~*~ Aline ~*~ Magpie ~*~ Sue ~*~ Cassandra ~*~ Dallas Meow ~*~ Joyismygoal ~*~ Ann Aguirre ~*~ Kat ~*~ Samantha Lucas ~*~ Starrlight ~*~ Jenny ~*~ Mark Caldwell ~*~ Nap Warden ~*~ Samantha K ~*~ Wacky Mommy ~*~ Mama Pajama ~*~ Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

BED meeting

Today was the second information meeting about eating disorders. This time it took place in Haarlem, in Het Dolhuys (museum of psychiatry). There were six applications, but the attendance was small again. I won't say BED is a taboo anymore, but the subject is still sensitive I guess. All the more brave of the people that did come!
My story was a bit different from last week, but that's okay. I don't want it to be recited, always the same. After I finished the questions came. I think it was a good afternoon and well-spent. I hope it meant something for the visitors too.

Oscar the Cat

Today I came across an interesting article from The New England Journal of Medicine. It is from July this year, but still interesting I think!

Oscar the Cat lives in the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Since he was adopted by staff members as a kitten, Oscar has had an uncanny ability to predict when residents are about to die. Thus far, he has presided over the deaths of more than 25 residents on the third floor. His mere presence at the bedside is viewed by physicians and nursing home staff as an almost absolute indicator of impending death, allowing staff members to adequately notify families. Oscar has also provided companionship to those who would otherwise have died alone. For his work, he is highly regarded by the physicians and staff at Steere House and by the families of the residents whom he serves.

Read the rest of the article "A Day in the Life of Oscar the Cat" here.

Grail Workshop Ara-group

Last year Sorcha, Liza and I did our second workshop with Phyllis Curott called the Grail Workshop. The other three members of our Ara-group would do it this year together with a Belgian group. Unfortunately that didn't work out and Phyllis wasn't able to come to Holland to do it. For the first time she decided that Sorcha, Liza and I could give the workshop to the three others without her being present. We sent her our notes and together we made an outline for the weekend. It is a great honour she trusted us to do this!

Sorcha had booked 2 cottages for us in the woods on the Veluwe. This is the view on the back. Our goddess-mother has a cottage nearby. I picked up Sorcha and Liza in Amsterdam and we arrived around half past 3 pm. The weather was absolutely fabulous for the whole weekend: warm and sunny like an Indian Summer. I brought Foofur with me. He had the time of his life! He gets along fine with the other dogs and it was fun to have him around. When the others arrived it was time for dinner. Sorcha had made a big pan of pumpkin soup, delicious! We had bread and salad to go with it. Everyone brought something to eat and/or drink. We even had elements-tea! I had made fresh juices.

Friday evening we started the workshop. We smudged the room and each other and made an altar in the corner. My drum was next to it with a light behind it. After a short introduction about grail magic (from Phyllis' book Witchcrafting) we cast the circle from hand to hand. Liza rattled and called the elements, I asked the Genius Loci (local spirits) for their guidance and blessing. Then we did a grounding exercise. We all brought a bottle of water from our homes. In a big chalice we poured the waters together. We raised a Cone of Power and charged the water with the energy. We each drank some from our own chalice. The rest was put on the altar.

We also tried several kinds of divination this weekend. We trained it in pairs and in the group. When one of the girls was reading my object (a moonstone), she suddenly felt very tired. She didn't know it was my object and also didn't know about my fatigue. The other things were right too. Amazing! The Goddess Oracle gave me Furies first (crisis) which fits the current situation. For the outcome came Nu Kua (order), so that's reassuring.

Saturday morning I was up early and took Foofur for a walk in the woods. That felt great! It was very quiet, the sun was coming up and the woods were so beautiful...
After breakfast we prepared ourselves to make an inner journey. The goal was to meet the Genius Loci and ask them what this place needed, what we could do for it. I had a good journey:
In the morning I went for a walk with Foofur. He chased a rabbit into its hole. The hole was in a little hill and seemed to go straight ahead, not into the ground immediately. I entered the earth through this rabbit hole. First it was very narrow and I had to crawl on hands and knees, straight on (not up or down). I wasn’t afraid though. Along the way it got broader and higher until I could walk upright.
I came out on the open field across the road and through the woods on the other side. An open space with high grass and trees around. My power animal, black panther, joined me. I asked him to bring me to the Genius Loci. I had to wait in the woods near a fallen tree. I sat there and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings. Suddenly the panther came back. Behind him floated (just above the ground) a lady in white, a dress with layers of transparent white fabric. She was about my age. She smiled at me and extended her hand to me. She took me for a walk through the woods. Foofur, Yum Yum and Noa were there with us. It was important to use all my senses: hear, see, feel, touch and taste nature around me. Be really present and aware. This place needs genuine attention, love and respect. She wants us to enjoy nature, feel the energy. Walk with dogs, ride on horses, whatever you like.
Near a big tree the group was with me. We gathered around the tree and held hands. We were very aware of the energy and enjoyed in silence. Then we let loose and touched the trunk with the palms of our hands. We stood there for a while, then turned around and sat on the roots with our backs against the tree. The lady in white smiled at us, she seemed content with what we were doing. She trusted us in respecting and honouring nature and left us behind in perfect love and perfect trust. She disappeared, faded among the trees and became one with the environment. It was time to walk back to our cabins. When we arrived there, the journey ended and I came back in the room.

We spent the afternoon analyzing our journeys and preparing for the ritual. Around 5 pm we had a conference call with Phyllis in the US (her time 11 am). We discussed our journeys and the ritual. She was happy and satisfied with how we were doing so far. It was nice to hear her voice again!
For the ritual we drove to the heath. On a very special place we did our ritual. We were surrounded by a white transparent mist in the dark. A mystical experience. It was the perfect place. The ritual felt good, very powerful. When we got back we sat and talked for a while.

Sunday we made another walk on the Veluwe. The weather was still sunny and the colours of autumn were gorgeous! We visited a little pool in the woods, so beautiful! I sat against a tree that felt very good. It was half uprooted, but still standing strong. We did a tree meditation around it. I made a picture from under the tree; that's on my desktop right now. We collected the mess people left to throw it away where it belongs. I've made literally hundreds of pictures in nature: trees, fungi, spiders, beetles, etc.

After lunch we packed our stuff, tidied the cottages and closed the circle. We said our goodbyes and went our different ways. I drove Sorcha and Liza to Amsterdam and was home in the late afternoon. It was a magnificent weekend!

TT #60: Yeats quotes

Thirteen quotes by William Butler Yeats Last week I gave you 13 quotes by Tolkien. This week another 13 quotes, also from one of my favourite authors: W.B. Yeats, Irish prose writer, dramatist and poet. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923. 1865-1939 "Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people." "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." "Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking." "Have not all races had their first unity from a mythology that marries them to rock and hill?" "If suffering brings wisdom, I would wish to be less wise." "But I, being poor, have only my dreams. I have spread my dreams under your feet; tread softly, because you tread on my dreams." "There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't yet met." "Life is a long preparation for something that never happens." "Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy." "Once you attempt legislation upon religious grounds, you open the way for every kind of intolerance and religious persecution." "All empty souls tend toward extreme opinions." "The creations of a great writer are little more than the moods and passions of his own heart, given surnames and Christian names, and sent to walk the earth." "The innocent and the beautiful have no enemy but time." BONUS: In this video Loreena McKennit sings Yeats' beautiful poem "The Stolen Child" (with the words as subtitles). sources: ThinkExist, The Quotations Page ~*~*~*~ Links to other Thursday Thirteens! ~*~ Yuriko ~*~ ellen b ~*~ susiej ~*~ WorksForMom ~*~ Chelle Y. ~*~ Nicholas ~*~ pussreboots ~*~ Malcolm ~*~ Susan Helene ~*~ Wacky Mommy ~*~ Jen ~*~ Lori ~*~ Sandy ~*~ Journeywoman ~*~ Joely Sue ~*~ Janet ~*~ Nap Warden ~*~ Judy Callarman ~*~ cajunvegan ~*~ No Nonsense Girl ~*~ Tempest Knight ~*~ HomeandHearth ~*~ Gabriella Hewitt ~*~ Gattina ~*~ grace ~*~ Rae ~*~ Damozel ~*~ Coco ~*~ Thorne ~*~ amypalko ~*~ Robin ~*~ cj ~*~ ONwebCHECK ~*~ Xakara ~*~ Bloggers ~*~ Alasandra ~*~ Carey ~*~ Kat's Krackerbox ~*~ PJ ~*~ Angela ~*~ Maribeth ~*~ Sparky Duck ~*~ Moondancer ~*~ MommyBa ~*~ Ann Aguirre ~*~ Qtpies7 ~*~ Sue ~*~ Cecily R ~*~ Lara Angelina ~*~ Samantha K ~*~ Dane Bramage ~*~ Danielle ~*~ Darla ~*~ Mark Caldwell ~*~ Mitchypoo ~*~ Mama Pajama ~*~ Sammi ~*~ Soleil ~*~ Dorothy ~*~ Aline ~*~ karen ~*~ J. Lynne ~*~ Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Eating Disorders Day

Today is the National Day of the Mental Health Care. It's a yearly thing with a theme. This year the theme is "Gevangen In Gewicht" (Caught In Weight): eating disorders. There are all kinds of events, meetings, lectures etc. throughout the country. I have been asked to tell my personal story in 3 information meetings in October in Hoofddorp (today), Haarlem (Oct. 17) and Amstelveen (Oct. 23).

So today was the first meeting in Hoofddorp. The target group was people with binge eating disorder, but of course they could bring someone else with them. Unfortunately a lot of people who had said they would come had to cancel because they fell ill. All around me I hear about people with the flu or something like that. Maybe they were all ill, but it could well be some of them got cold feet. I can certainly understand that from my own experience. The meetings are easily accessible, but a person can put up his or her own barriers...

Anyhow, the attendance wasn't very large, but it was a good meeting nevertheless. I did my story and it went well. I had made a rough outline of what I wanted to tell, just some words to guide me. That works best for me. The questions came naturally during and after my story, the interaction felt good. The time went by very quickly. It was good to do, for the "public", but also for me!

CoT #5: nap spot no. 1

CATS ON TUESDAY is a group of cat lovers

who write about their cats once a week,

hosted by Gattina.

In our home the cats are always provided with a lot of potential places to take a nap. They can sleep on the couch, on several blankets, lots of soft cushions, hammock on the central heating and I'm sure I still forget to mention places. But what is their favourite napping spot? ...ME!

One of my favourite sleeping pics! They like to snuggle up to me as close as possible. I'm used to it (even miss it when they don't do it!), so it doesn't wake me. Most of the time there's also a little dog lying in the hollow of my knees. :-)

I already showed you a picture out of this series before, but Maia has a way of sleeping in the cutest positions ever! There has to be someone else around to catch it on camera though...

Maia's favourite spot, in fact all the cats (and little dog) like it best... ;-)

When I don't feel that good, all the pets decide together to snuggle up to me from head to foot. And it always makes me feel better... Their warmth, their comfort... I love my fur friends so much!!

My Desktop Free View

Darla tagged me for this meme. I made the screenshot right away and then forgot to post it. But, here it is:


My desktop picture changes often, but there are returning favourites: trees, other nature pics, Robbie Williams, scenes from LOTR, cats, Tinkerbell...
The (above) picture on my desktop right now is one of the pictures I made last Sunday in the Panbos in Zeist during the walk with Dusty Miller.
There are more icons on my desktop than there usually are, because Ron has put 2 things there from his USB-stick. I don't like icons on my desktop and have as few as possible.

The My Desktop Free View Instructions:

• Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun.
  You can do a screen capture by:
  *1* Going to your desktop and pressing the Print Scrn key (located on the right side of the F12 key).
  *2* Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V).
  *3* If you wish, you can “edit” the image, before saving it.
• Post the picture in your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop just below it if you want. You can explain why you preferred such look or why is it full of icons. Things like that.
• Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktop as well.
• Add your name to this list of Free Viewers with a link pointing directly to your Desktop Free View post to promote it to succeeding participants.
  iRonnie - I Set No Corner
  Thess - Thesserie
  Rebecca - Skippy Heart
  Knoizki - A Dialogue With K
  Beng - Kauderwelch
  Tina- My Good Finds
  Rachel - Heart of Rachel
  Alice - Hello, My Name Is Alice
  Julia - Julia's Books Corner!
  Darla - Nichtszusagen
  Tink - ~*~Tinkerbell~*~

It seems like everyone has already been tagged... I love to see other desktops though, so if you haven't done it yet and you'd like to: consider yourself tagged!
If you participated already, leave your link in the comments if you want. I'll visit and have a look!

TT #59: quotes by Tolkien

Thirteen quotes by J.R.R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings is my all-time favourite book. Tolkien is my favourite author. In- and outside his books the man said some remarkable things! 1892 - 1973 "It's a job that's never started that takes the longest to finish." "Little by little, one travels far." "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." "All that is gold does not glitter; not all those that wander are lost." "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." "What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good on this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?" "Still round the corner there may wait, a new road or a secret gate." "Courage is found in unlikely places." "Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible, and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer." "There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after." "To crooked eyes truth may wear a wry face." "I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend." "The world is full enough of hurts and mischance without wars to multiply them." sources: ThinkExist, The Quotations Page ~*~*~*~ Links to other Thursday Thirteens! ~*~ Thorne ~*~ Yuriko ~*~ Robin ~*~ SusieJ ~*~ LifeCruiser ~*~ Ellen B ~*~ Chelle Y. ~*~ Nicholas ~*~ Nap Warden ~*~ Thomma Lyn ~*~ Janet ~*~ Lori ~*~ AF wife ~*~ Celtic angel ~*~ Julie ~*~ Susan Helene ~*~ Lazy Daisy ~*~ Nancy J. Bond ~*~ Lara Angelina ~*~ diz ~*~ WorksForMom ~*~ Yen ~*~ Sandy ~*~ Dane Bramage ~*~ Starrlight ~*~ Journeywoman ~*~ Miss Wisabus ~*~ Wacky Mommy ~*~ Tanabata ~*~ cj ~*~ Wolfie ~*~ Dragonheart ~*~ Malcolm ~*~ AreWeThereYetMom ~*~ Rims ~*~ The Bluest Butterfly ~*~ Bloggers ~*~ Xakara ~*~ Mom not Mum ~*~ grace ~*~ Darla ~*~ Nancy ~*~ Gattina ~*~ Daisy ~*~ Carolan Ivey ~*~ Sparky Duck ~*~ Cher ~*~ Gloria ~*~ Ann ~*~ Sonya ~*~ Starchy ~*~ Tempest Knight ~*~ Lara Croft ~*~ Irene ~*~ Moondancer ~*~ Joyismygoal ~*~ Sniz ~*~ Sammi ~*~ J. Lynne ~*~ Karen ~*~ Samantha ~*~ Mama Pajama ~*~ Buck Naked Politics ~*~ Sue ~*~ Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Dusty Miller in Zeist

Last year in April I went to a walk with Dusty Miller the 13th in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. I enjoyed it very much. I always read his weblog and leave a comment now and then. I was pleased to hear he would visit our country the last week of September this year, again organized by Jeroen Heindijk of Geronimo's Gallery . I booked for a walk in the Panbos in Zeist on September 30. Wonder would come with me.

Unfortunately Wonder couldn't come because he was ill. I called Joke and she was happy to go in his place. We picked up Llwella in Nieuwegein. The meeting place wasn't exactly easy to find! the directions weren't specific enough. In the end we found it, but it was good we left early!

The Panbos (woods of Pan) is very beautiful. Jeroen and Dusty told us about the trees and we did some exercises. It was a great experience. Again I learned a lot!
The group wasn't big; I think we were with 15. It was wonderful to be with people that understand and share my love for trees. There also was a cameraman; there's a DVD about Dusty in the making. Great! If it's ready, Jeroen will announce it on his website. The weather was good: dry with some sun. The last days before it had rained a lot, but we were lucky!

After the walk we all drove to Jeroen's place where Dusty took a seat in the living room to answer questions. I love to hear him telling stories about his family, the trees and everything else. It's such fascinating material and he's a very good story teller. Afterwards I introduced myself and he was pleasantly surprised to meet the Tinkerbell he knew from the comments on his blog.

We also had a look in Jeroen's gallery. He sells a lot of interesting stuff. Dusty's Livewood of course, but also woodwork by Houtdraaierij Kramer, herbs, incense and other related products.

You can see the pictures I made in this online album.
Watch Dusty's first YouTube video about a very unusal find of many 4 and 5 leaf clovers.

Journey apart together

Friday evening I had an appointment with the girls from the Ara group, but alone at home! In our meetings and on our own we made several shamanic journeys (the Michael Harner method). This time we would all do a journey at home at the same time at the same day. We started at 10pm last night. I was lying on my bed with my iPaq and earphones.

I started my journey near a special tree I know in real life. I touched it, hugged it and slid very gently through the big roots into the earth. I ended up in an underground vault, much like the one in the TV-series Beauty & The Beast. I walked and enjoyed this beautiful neighbourhood, lit by torches and candles. I felt comfortable there.
Suddenly I stood near a deep abyss. I didn't see it, but I knew the Ara-members were on the other side. I didn't know what to do. Then I saw there was a bridge of glass, almost invisible. I hesitated for a moment but decided to trust, took a step on the glass and walked across.
Indeed the others were waiting for me. Phyllis was also there. We all hugged and said hello. We sat down in a circle and talked a bit. We all had the same blanket and/or cushions to sit on the bed of autumn leaves. We were dressed in matching colours with the vicinity: trees in autumn clothing of beautiful colours, Indian Summer.
We started a ritual, I was on the West (water). In the middle stood something twisting: a candle? a branch? We stood up. Phyllis reached for her right shoulder/upper arm in pain. At her feet was a Corgi dog we know. I didn't see its owner, but felt she was close too. We did a Cone of Power. At the end we directed our energy to a point in the sky. There it joined together and then fell down on the earth and us as a golden fountain of water(?). Then we did a spiral dance with Phyllis in the middle. After the cake and wine we opened the circle from hand to hand.
I looked around and touched the big tree that was behind us on the south-east. I found a beautiful pine or fur cone. Strange, because there were only deciduous trees. When I picked it up, the words for a chant came to me. (we all did a journey for a chant before, but mine didn't give me anything then).
After a while it was time to say goodbye. I went back over the glass bridge, through the vault, up to the tree and then back to the reality of my bed.

Wow, it was a great journey! I didn't read all the reports of the others yet, but in the ones I did were certain similarities. Different journeys, but with a lot of common ground.